Wisconsin Badgers Hockey Looking to Add Some Hardware

Wisconsin Badgers hockey has rebounded in a major way after a disappointing 2022-2023 season.

The Badgers now sit at 24-8-2 overall after a sweep on the road at Penn State. This comes on the heels of a 13-23 season last year, far from the standards of this historic program.

With the wins over Penn State this weekend, Wisconsin moves into a tie for third place in Pairwise. This jump from sixth last week puts the Badgers in a great position to achieve a one seed in the NCAA tournament.

Wisconsin Badgers Hockey Hosts Michigan State in Massive Series

Wisconsin men’s hockey coach Mike Hastings guides the team through practice at La Bahn Arena in Madison, Wis. at Tuesday Sept. 26, 2026.

In a huge series this weekend, Wisconsin has a chance to win their first regular season conference title since the 2020-2021 season. The Badgers currently sit in second place behind Michigan State, which is just four standings points up on Wisconsin.

If Wisconsin sweeps the series in regulation, it would win the Big Ten outright. But that is a large ask. The Badgers are 0-2 against the Spartans this year and were outscored 7-4 during their visit East Lansing earlier this year.

This weekend will most likely be a high scoring affair, as Wisconsin is 10th in the country in goals per game, and Michigan State is sixth. Wisconsin will look to take advantage of Michigan State’s inconsistent goaltending, as Trey Augustine sits 54th in the country giving up 2.95 goals per three periods.

Badgers Are Led by Hobey Baker Candidate in Goal

Wisconsin Badgers hockey has largely seen success this year due to the outstanding goaltending of Senior Kyle McClellan. McClellan is nominated for the Hobey Baker Award, for the best player in college hockey. The senior standout leads the country in save percentage and is second in GAA. He has  given up more than three goals only four times.

McClellan started his college career at Mercyhurst, where he excelled early. The goalie posted a .932 save percentage both of his first two years with the Lakers. McClellan transferred to Wisconsin after his sophomore season.

In his first year with the Badgers, McClellan struggled. He posted a .883 save percentage and a 3.57 GAA. This year, he took a massive leap. His save percentage is back up to a .932, and the senior is currently second in the country with a 1.9 GAA.

Wisconsin Badgers Hockey Has Sights Set on Seventh NCAA Title

The Badgers are looking for their first title since 2006, a season where they won 30 games. This year’s team has a chance to win 25 games in the regular season, a mark that has not been hit since the 2012-2013 season.

Currently Wisconsin aims to secure a one seed in the NCAA tournament for the second time in four years (2021). The Badgers are currently fourth in odds to win the NCAA championships on DraftKings at +800.

A large part of how successful the Wisconsin Badgers can be in winning the Big Ten and getting to the Frozen Four this year comes down to this weekend against Michigan State. Puck drop is scheduled at 8 p.m. both nights at the Kohl Center and can be streamed on BTN+.

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